Lucy Starts Her Mission

 

Lucy started home MTC on Monday, February 12. Her teachers were from the Mexico MTC and she did a Spanish zoom class in the mornings, a workshop for all missionaries that started this week from the Provo MTC, and then a Preach my Gospel class each afternoon. After the first day, she wasn't so sure, but it got better.

Then she got to hang out with us in the evenings.

We went to Calgary on Monday night so Lucy could fly to the Mexico MTC on Tuesday, February 20.

We got up at 4:15 am and took Lucy to the airport, checked her bags, hugged her goodbye, and she was off through security.

Missionaries aren't supposed to take a phone - they just give you a phone when you get there. So we couldn't talk to her through her travel day. But Tanis Hardy convinced me to put an air tag in her bag, and I was glad I did. I could see when she made it through security, then when she landed in Dallas and found her new gate, and then when she landed in Mexico. I did also track her flights on flight tracker - it was probably made for missionary moms.

Then I just got a one sentence message - This is Lucy, I made it to Mexico.

On Friday she posted a video Facebook with her companion speaking Spanish - her Spanish teacher gives that assignment (2 videos and 2 pictures so far) I was so happy to see her cute face.

She had a few hours of free time on Saturday night, and so we got to talk to her for the first time. She seems happy and doing good. She said there was another sister missionary and two elders on her flight from Dallas to Mexico City - so she had someone to be with as they went through immigration and met the MTC worker and rode the MTC bus.

She got called to be the Apartment Leader - mi casa mama

It's a pretty MTC campus ... the weather is warm... she said they told her the Mexico MTC is the only place in Mexico City that has birds, every where else is too city

Kindness to Lucy

 So many people have done nice things for Lucy for her mission.

$100 - Brother Gerald Walburger (previous hometeacher)

$100 - Neil & Hali Leishman

$200 - Brenda Leavitt (our kind neighbor)

$50 - Shauna Smith

Free haircut - Tammy Sommerfeldt

A note and journal - Sarra Eaton

Note cards that say Hermana Nunn with the Puerto Rico flag - Sarah Blodgett, Lucy's BYU roommate

Hanna gave Lucy this journal. She wrote a thought/lesson she learned from her mission for every week of Lucy's mission. She isn't supposed to read ahead - just one a week. So nice of her...she spent a lot of hours writing those notes. She also gave her some things from her mission (footsteps, plan of salvation drawings).

Jewel Hardy gave Lucy a home MTC sunshine gift bag, full of things that are yellow.

Farewell Weekend & Carly's Basketball Tournament

 Will knew his parents were going somewhere, so he put himself in the suitcase to make sure he wouldn't be left behind.

Hanna flew from Casper, Wyoming to Great Falls so she could come early to spend a few days with us. Lucy and I drove to the airport to get her - we traveled some snowy roads. That night we got to watch Carly's basketball team play against LCI.

On Thursday, Hanna and Lucy went to the temple in the morning. The Perkins stayed in Idaho Falls Wednesday night and got to Cardston on Thursday afternoon. That night we went to ride horses at the Academy.

On Friday morning we made cookies for Will's birthday and then Will hung out with Grandpa & Grandma Nunn while the rest of us went to the temple to do sealings.

Then we drove to Okotoks to watch Carly's basketball tournament. After they won their first game, it was a foggy drive to our hotel in High River. The next morning after breakfast, we went swimming. Will loved it.

Then we watched Carly's team win their second game. Then we had to kill time in the afternoon eating lunch and shopping until the championship game. James had stayed home because they were weaning calves, but he came up on Saturday and made it to Carly's championship game. Her team played great and won first place.

On Sunday, we got to listen to Lucy give her mission farewell talk. It was a really good Sacrament Meeting. We sang "Spirit of God" and "Called to Serve" (I may or may not have sent in a request). There was another missionary leaving, Maxwell McKay so he also spoke. Then Lucy gave such a great talk. She finished her talk about an hour before church started. Several times during the week she opened her notebook, wrote Lucy's Talky Talk and then closed the book. It just didn't come. On the way home from the basketball tournament, Austin gave her a dozen ideas. When we got home, she started typing. She finished in the morning.

After Sacrament Meeting, we had a lunch at Austin's office. We had a sandwich bar and chips, and we asked friends to bring salads and desserts. Then Hanna and Jill had to leave to head back home.

It was such a great weekend.

Lucy Gets Set Apart

 A benefit of having Austin in the Stake Presidency is that President Ferguson gave him permission to set Lucy apart as a missionary.

-Heavenly Father is aware of you and the decisions you have made to keep your mind and body clean and pure and ready to serve

-He is aware of your concerns and fears

-He will strengthen you and bare you up

-Bless you with courage

-Help you to find those seeking for truth

-Love your companions and build great relationships with them

-Learn Spanish quickly and be able to express your love and testimony

-Sprit of obedience

-Good relationship with your Mission President and his wife

-Opportunities to lead and to grow

-Mission is a reflection of good things to come in your life

-Reflect on the tender mercies, especially on the hard days

-Holy Ghost as your constant companion

-Health and strength, protection, not fear

-Use study time wisely

-Come to know the Savior even more

-Know that your family loves you and is grateful for your sense of stability and peace

-As you finish and return, you will see your path clearly as you make decisions of education and marriage

-Read your patriarchal blessing

-Have a firm foundation as you teach of faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

Grandpa Buck was here to be with Austin as they set her apart. Grandpa Randy and Grandma Carol, and Steve & Karma Albiston got to be with us on Facetime. Jill and Larsen and James and Hanna were driving home from Canada to be here for Lucy's farewell, but they also got to be with us on the video call. Jill didn't have service when were ready to start, so we waited about 10 minutes, and luckily she got service again.

Hermana Nunn put her name tag on. She was ready to start.

Lucy's Mission Farewell

 Jesus Knows

At the end of June 2023 I still didn’t have a summer job and I was beginning to worry about if I would find one or not and my dad told me it would all work out because Jesus knows. A few days later I was able to take over Hanna’s job at the county spraying weeds. During this past summer I was able to work with multiple returned missionaries. During this summer I was able to see the profound impact that a mission had on each of my coworkers. 

As the days got closer to the end of august, I knew that soon I would move out and start my first semester of university. As I was preparing I was getting pretty nervous about all of it. For those of you who know me know that I’m not the biggest fan of change. And so this next step in my life was about to bring a lot of change with it. As I was packing and feeling ever more nervous my dad once again reminded me that Jesus knows. While at the time that wasn’t really what I wanted to hear, this is really what I needed to hear. Even though I wanted my dad to have sympathy for me and my nerves, I really only needed Christ and his empathy for every fear that I face in my life.

When I arrived in Provo to find my apartment and my new roommates. Jesus knew that I needed the girls that waited in apartment 27s walls. He knew that I would need Sarah to drag to all of the BYU games and to hate on chemistry together. He knew that I would need an Alyssa to feed me and make treats with. Jesus also knew that I would need a Gretel to help me realize what kind of an impact a mission can have on one’s life. He also knew I would need both a Madi and a Megan. He knew that I would need someone to talk to every night before bed. He also knew that I needed someone that would know people in our ward and our bishop. Apartment 27 will forever hold a special place in my heart because Jesus knew me and my needs. 

While at BYU I knew that I would need a job. So as I started scrolling through the jobs on the campus page and the ground crew jobs stood out to me. And so I applied but didn’t hear from anyone for a few weeks so I sent in another application online. And a few days later I got an email that I would be on Connor Davidson’s crew on the temple and missionary field grounds crew. The first day I showed up to work I was pretty nervous about the people I would be working with and what work I would be doing. When I walked into our shop that morning I found a girl from my ward I had met the Sunday before. When I saw her that morning I knew that Jesus knew I would need someone to ease my nerves about going to work each day. As the days went on in my working I found that each day as I was either working in the flower beds, mowing lawns, or raking leaves, I would get to see a bunch of missionaries from the MTC walk by to go to the temple. As I got to see each of them walk by I would start to wonder what it was like to be one of them. What would it be like to get to wear that name tag everyday. 

During the first few weeks of the semester everyone on the bus, in classes, and in my ward would talk to whoever was beside them and introduce themselves, each time you would get the same questions like where are you from? What are you majoring in? Are you like a freshman freshman or like a returned missionary freshman? In many of these conversations I would talk to another returned missionary. While growing up in a large member population, it was still shocking to me the amount of returned missionaries that attend BYU. Each time I would meet someone new I would find each of their experiences very cool. 

    This last October I had the opportunity to listen to all 5 sessions of general conference. The Wednesday before conference I had attended institute with my roommates. In my class our teacher told us that we should each have a question going into the weekend, and then gave us a minute to think about it and write it down. While the idea of a mission had always been in the back of my mind I hadn’t ever really committed to the idea. Going into my freshman year of university I felt overwhelmed as it was, I didn’t need another big life event to think about right then. But as I was sitting there thinking I wrote down two questions. The first was what should I do with school. And the second was if I should go on a mission.

    As the weekend rolled around I had pushed my questions to the back of my mind, and didn’t really want to think about them. On Saturday morning my roommates and I woke up and walked over to the stake center to watch the first session with our ward. As I sat there with my ward of mostly returned missionaries I felt the Spirit in a different way than I had ever felt it before. Sitting there listening to the talks I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love. As that session ended and we headed back to our apartment all of my roommates left to watch the next session with their families. And so when the second session rolled around I was left by myself in my living room listening to conference. During this session was when I realized that I had received my answer to my second question. I opened my notes from the past Wednesday with my questions and wrote down, “ Yup, just go.”.

    For the next three sessions I listened closely to make sure that I had received the right answer. By the end of the Sunday session I was sure that I had made the right decision to serve a mission. Sunday evening I called my mom like I did most days. As we were talking about General Conference, I told my mom that I was pretty sure that I wanted to serve a mission but not to tell anyone until I was sure. My mom also asked me why I wanted to serve a mission and I said to her that I felt like I needed to tell people about this gospel. I want to tell everyone that Jesus knows. He knows each of them individually and personally. 

In one of my favorite songs titled My Jesus it says “Are you past the point of weary? Is your burden weighing heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus / Do you feel that empty feeling? ‘Cause shame’s done all it’s stealing And you're desperate for some healing Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus. He makes a way where there ain’t no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain’t no sinner that he can’t save Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is, I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus and let my Jesus change your life.” I love this song because it portrays how Jesus can help those around us. He can heal each broken soul because He has suffered all and because of this Jesus knows.

    In Alma 7:11-12 it reads “11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people according to their infirmities.” 

In these scriptures we can see how Jesus is able to know each of us personally. Because He has suffered everything any of us have ever had to suffer He can succor us. While there are times in our lives where we feel as though we are all very alone in this world, we are never truly alone if we will let Christ and His healing powers into our lives. Because of the love and peace Christ brings into each of our lives we can know that Jesus knows each of us. And because of this knowledge it is our job to share it. This is why I am choosing to serve a mission. I am excited to share this knowledge of relief from this world with the people of Puerto Rico. I can’t wait to meet the people Christ has prepared to receive this gospel. While I know that it will be hard I know Jesus knows where I am and what struggles I am having and will have. 

    I'm thankful for this ward and the many primary, young women’s, and Sunday school teachers. I am thankful for the many other examples in my life and their influence. I am thankful for my family and their love and support for me. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve the people in Puerto Rico. I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have of Him and His plan for me. 

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen. 

 

Will's 2nd Birthday

We were lucky to get to celebrate Will's 2nd birthday with him because his family came to Canada for Lucy's mission farewell - or Susy as Will calls her.